Anger hit him first. The woman was injured and she was trying to escape him. With a sigh, he leaned against the house and waited. She was cussing as she wiggled through the window. He could definitely tell she had been an analyst and not someone who had been trained in the field. No operative he knew would make that much noise when trying to escape.
More muttered cussing, but she finally dropped down out of the window. She looked to her right, then her left, freezing when she saw him.
“And just where did you think you were going?”
Irritation and anger moved over her expression, although, he was sure that he saw relief flash for a second. It disappeared as fast as it had appeared.
“I needed some fresh air.”
“So, naturally you decided to push your way through that tiny window, rather than just walk down the hallway to the front door. I also have a very nice back lanai. You could have sat out there for some fresh air.”
She was not happy with his comment that was for sure. She studied him for a long moment before she answered him.
“I need to leave.”
That was it. No explanation, just that she needed to leave. Something swirled in his gut, something close to panic. Panic that she was leaving. Well, fuck that. She wasn’t leaving.
“You called me.”
She opened her mouth, but he pushed away from the house and stalked towards her.
“You called me,” he repeated.
“And I thanked you.”
“Actually, you never really thanked me. But it doesn’t matter. You called me.”
“You keep repeating that and I don’t understand. Yes, I called you. You were the one person I knew on the island.”
“El is here.”
“I didn’t know.”
Her connection with the fast-talking Texan was getting on his nerves. Why the fuck did that mean something to him? And why was he letting it bother him? He didn’t get jealous over women he was dating, let alone a woman he’d only met face to face hours ago. It didn’t matter.
“What is El to you?” Bloody hell, he didn’t mean to ask that.
“We’re friends.”
“And?”
She blinked. “I’ve been friends with both him and Ed for years. They are my friends.”
It still didn’t satisfy him, but he let it go. For now.
“Either way, you called me for help. You have a concussion.”
“I’m feeling fine.”
“And you are seriously underweight.”
“Rude of you to notice.”
“Come on. You’re coming back in the house, and we are talking about this attack. You are not leaving.”
“You don’t own me.”
“No, but I will turn your ass in to the authorities.” He had no idea who had a warrant out for her, but he was sure the CIA would like to get hold of her. He was also lying. Whatever she had done, she had done for a good reason. Ian didn’t know why he thought that, but he did. Someone like her with her skills, she could easily steal bitcoin or sell information. Instead, she roamed around living in the elements, saving other people.
